Charles e



(No Model.)

HAY FORK.

0. E. PATRIG.

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gnphor. Wilhi" OIL D Q UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. PATRIO, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE SUPERIOR DRILL COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

HAY-FORK.

S'PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,107, dated May 28, 1889.

Application filed July 12, 1888. $erial No. 279,788. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. PATRIC, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hay-Forks,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in hay-forks.

The object of my invention is to improve upon the constructions of hay-forks now in use and thereby remedy defects therein.

My invention consists in the constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a hay-fork embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the upper portion of the operating-rod and its attached mechanism. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the same, showing the manner of securing the parts together. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views showing the construction of the handle and latch.

In the said drawings, a represents the outer casing or penetrator, which is provided with slots through which barbs b I), attached to an operating-rod, 0, may be extended or withdrawn, to which rod is secured a handle, 0', in the ordinary manner. The penetrator a is provided at the top with a guard, at, which holds the respective sides of said penetrator to permit the operating-rod to work freely therein. In operation the fork is suspended by a rope or other suitable connection (not shown) secured to the handle 0'. The penetrator a is adapted to move longitudinally on the operating-rod c and be held in different positions in relation thereto, so that when it is desired to penetrate the load the barbs b will be withdrawn, and when it is desired to elevate the load they will be extended in a well-known manner.

The operating-rod c is provided at the upper end with a movable jaw, ciwhiclrextends into the ring or handle 0, and is provided with a suitable latch, 0 engaging with the handle 0, operated by a cam, 0 to which a structed that a strain upon the cord 0 will unlock the jaw o and permit the top to move laterally, the lower portion moving on a pivot, 0 all these constructions being well known in connection with hay forks, and clearly shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, so as to need no further description. The upper end of the penetrator a, which also forms a sheath for the operating-rod 0, consists of two side pieces, 6&2 a which are connected together at the top by a connecting-piece, a which preferably passes through the guard at, and is riveted at each end, as shown in Fig. 3. This connecting-piece a extends through the operating-rod 0, between the main portion thereof and the movable jaw 0 the said connectingpiece being adapted to rest in openings a and Min said operating-rod, so as to hold said rod in different positions of adjustment necessary to extend or withdraw the barbs b b, said openings a and cflbeing formed partly in the main portion of the operating-rod and partly in the movable portion 0 In order to secure a successful operation of the parts named, it is desirable to have the joint f between the parts 0 and 0 near the center of the opening a These openings 0, and a and the connecting-piece a have heretofore been usually made round. The result was that in dropping from one opening to the other in discharging the load there was a tendency for the connecting-piece to wedge between the stationary part c and the jaw 0 and thus spread the joint between the same. It was found in practice that the metal forming the bearing or seat into which the connecting-piece dropped would also become swaged up, so as to force the metal into the joint between the parts thereof, and thus interefere with the working of the same. To overcome these defects, I form the bottom of the opening a of a plane surface adapted to form aseat, f, at right angles to the line of the descent of the connecting-piece a and make the bottom of the connecting-piece parallel to said seat. I also provide the said seat at each side of the joint with small beveled faces e e, to prevent the metal from being swaged into the said joint by the dropping of the con- 5 cord, 0 is attached, the parts being so con necting-piece on the said bearing-face. The

remaining sides of the connecting-piece a where it projects through the operating-rod, are preferably formed of plane surfaces, so that the said connecting-piece at this point is square or rectangular in cross-section. The

upper opening, a, is beveled at each side at the bottom,as shown at e 6 so that the crosspiece a will drop readily out of said opening to the opening or seat below when the jaw c is drawn out to release the same.

By the construction thus described the device is made more effective in its'operation, and the parts which receive the blow from the penetrator are formed with a large plane surface at right angles to the direction in which the blow is given, so that the swaging of the metal is largely overcome. The construction of the parts is such thatif the swaging should take place it would not affect the operation of the device by crowding the metal into the joint or space between said parts.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination, in a hay-fork, of a penetrator provided with a connecting piece adapted to hold the same in different positions of adjustment, and an operating-rod provided with openings in which the connecting-piece is adapted to engage, and having a seat at the bottom of the lower opening formed at right angles to the line of descent of the said penetrator, said connecting-piece having a bottom face parallel with said seat and formed rectangular in cross-section, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

g 2. The combination, in ahay-fork, of a penetrator, provided with a connecting piece adapted to hold the same in diiferent positions of adjustment, and an operating-rod provided with openings in which the connecting-piece is adapted to engage, and having a seat at the bottom. of the lower opening formed at right angles to the line of descent of the said penetrator, a joint, f, in said seat, and beveled faces on each side of said joint, substantially as specified.

3. The combinatiomwith the operating-rod provided with upper and lower openings, the upper opening having at the bottom thereof the beveled faces e 6 of apenetrator adapted to form a sheath for said operating-rod, a connecting-piece extending through said operating-rod and connected at each end of the'sides of said penetrator, said connecting-piece being rectangular in cross-section, the said operating-rod being provided with a jointed seat at the bottom of the lower opening at right angles to the line of descent of said penetrator, and beveled faces on each side of said joint, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of July, A. D. 1888.

CHARLES E. PATRIC.

I Witnesses: Q

JosHUA ScoTT, PAUL A. STALEY. 

